Over the past 100 years, the evaluation and management of lateral skull base tumors have evolved tremendously. While most pathology involving the temporal bone and cerebellopontine angle is histologically benign, significant morbidity may occur as a result of disease progression or treatment. At the turn of the twentieth century, mortality from cerebellopontine angle tumor extirpation exceeded 80% and invariably resulted in substantial cranial nerve morbidity in the small percentage of those that survived the perioperative window. As a result of refinements in diagnostic imaging, microsurgical techniques, and stereotactic radiation delivery, today disease- and treatment-associated mortality approaches zero, and the majority of patients receive durable tumor control and experience minimal neurologic morbidity. Recognizing the significant advantages of multidisciplinary care, most centers utilize the collective expertise of neurotologists, neurosurgeons, and radiation oncologists in the treatment of patients with lateral skull base tumors.
It is a great honor and privilege to guest-edit this important two-part issue of Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America entitled, “Tumors of the Ear and Lateral Skull Base.” We were extremely fortunate to assemble a cadre of world-renowned experts to share their clinical insights and knowledge regarding the complex and evolving treatment of lateral skull base disease. Part 2 is primarily dedicated to tumors of the cerebellopontine angle and petroclival region, including vestibular schwannoma, intralabyrinthine schwannoma, neurofibromatosis type 2, nonschwannoma tumors of the cerebellopontine angle, primary tumors of the facial nerve, petroclival meningioma, chondrosarcoma, and chordoma, and an overview of stereotactic radiosurgery for tumors of the lateral skull base. We extend our sincerest gratitude to each contributing author for dedicating a significant amount of time and effort toward the completion of this comprehensive two-part issue.
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